New Colour Coded Screwdriver set for easier tool identification

When you have a tool box full of different screwdrivers and you are looking for a Philips screwdriver it is so easy to pick up a pozidrive one by mistake and then bugger up the screw head. Unless you have eagle eyesight it can be hard to select the correct tool. Or if you are working with a helper it can be hard to describe the tool you need. That's why I love these colour coded screwdrivers. Red for flat head (plains slot) blue for Phillips (cross slot) and green for Pozidrive.

These Draper pro quality screwdrivers have all the features like the hex nut below the handle, on the larger sizes,  so you can apply a spanner for extra force. The set has the most useful sizes and lengths to fit the 3 most common screw types. 

Draper Expert 16 Piece Engineers  Screwdriver Set

Colour Coded - For faster tool selection

The right tool for the right job!

The basic hacksaw is a simple and effective tool and its performance is mostly dependant on the quality and tension of the blade.

The standard size for a hacksaw blade is 12 inches and they come in various teeth sizes to suit different materials.24 teeth per inch is the norm.

Softer material like copper requires a coarser blades with less teeth, like 18 teeth per inch. Hard materials like stainless steel prefer 32 teeth per inch.

My friends at a prestigious engineering workshop have been comparing a range of old and new hacksaws for me and  have been very impressed with the new models and the bi-metal blades.

This is a no-frills mid range hacksaw suitable for DIY and professional use. I lent a range of hacksaws to my friends at Oxford University Engineering and this one came out top due to its rigidity and comfortable grips.

buy the best bi-metal hacksaw blades

Powered Hacksaws - The Scorpion!

The Scorpion from Black & Decker has been around a few years now. It's 3 easy change blades do the job of a wood saw, hacksaw and jigsaw. Only problem - the Scorpion is a bit of a Porker at nearly 2kg, so unless you have a lot of cutting to do it may be easier to use a hand tool. 

The Scorpion performs the function of a jigsaw with the added bonus of being a powered hacksaw. Ideal for DIY and great for people who don't have the strength and/or fine hand skills to use a handsaw.

The Black & Decker Scorpion is an effective tool but could be more robust. The other disadvantage is that it uses specialist blades that are expensive and can be hard to get. A more sensible option is reciprocating saw (Sabre Saw), as they use standard fitting, easily available blades.

Reciprocating saws with Universal blades

With the right blade a reciprocating saw can be used for cutting any material (and pruning trees)

The cheap set of mixed blades above are amazing value and I use them a lot.

The Ryobi one+ battery can also power a range of over 20 cordless powertools

Tools on test - best wire stripper and crimper

I have owned and thrown away many pairs of wire strippers over the last 20 years and have been on a mission to find the best and most reliable tool.

Automatic wire strippers often start off working well and then just when you are doing an important job they fail and mangle or cut the wire. Many times I have had to fall back on using my simple plier type strippers to get a job done.

Currently I am  trying a new set of automatic wire strippers, crimpers and cutters from my old friends at Draper Tools. I will be giving this tool a lot of use on many types of wire and reporting back. So far so good and I am very impressed with the accuracy of the stripping.

As you can see from the image to the right, I was able to take off the thick outer protective plastic insulation and then strip off the very thin coloured insulation from 4 audio and video cables. This very delicate work was achieved in seconds and with great accuracy.

 Dremel Pro for intricate polishing/cutting/grinding

Dremel has been the market leader in powered multi-tools for many years. The mains powered hobby tool has been improved several times and now has an incredible range of accessories.

To stay ahead of the game they have released this new 10.8 volt cordless tool with the superior Lithium ion battery.

It comes with charger and accessories in a sturdy case and impressed me with it's power. I also tried a couple of the cheaper copies of this tool and always go back to my Drem due to the quality of the battery ,  its reliability and level of control.

This is one little tool every home or workshop should own. I use my Dremel for drilling very small holes, polishing metal, removing rust from small components, grinding out wood in recesses for locks, sharpening tools, and a host of other jobs

The Cordless Dremel is handy for quick little jobs outside of the workshop. If you don't really need a cordless one get the cheaper mains powered version as it has more power and will always be ready without needing a charge. Or if you have a workshop and work outside too get both as the tools accessories are the same for each.

Dremel is made by Bosch of Germany

Dremel 7800 multipro cordless

Now  with Lithium ION battery

use the link below to compare prices my partner site a tooled-up.com

buy any Dremel tool or accessory online

 Dremel Tools Accessories and Tool Kits

Buying an individual tool for your Dremel in places like B&Q works out very expensive and it is cheaper to buy a whole new kit of tools rather than individually. When you buy a kit or Tin of Dremel tools it will usually say 100 pieces or 250 tools but in fact you will get about 10 tools and 90 little grinding discs or polishing pads. Some people find this a bit misleading and are very disappointed.

The question then arises? should you buy the genuine Dremel accessories or the cheaper copies from companies like Rolson?

To test the difference I bought a cheap Rolson accessory pack and was quite pleased with it. The tools fit the Dremel and seem to be as durable.

The Rolson kit contains 150 pieces and includes a very good range of usefull tools.

The main drawback to these budget price packs seems to be the poor packaging with boxes that either hold onto the tools shaft too tightly or not at all and boxes that you cant open without everything flying out. If you can put up with this and transfer your accessories to another box then  these cheap kits are worth getting. See the links opposite to compare prices and specs.

talking of specs.... if you use a Dremel type tool make sure you have good safety glasses as bits of material tend to fly off when you are grinding , cutting and sharpening.

original or copies at half the price?

Multi-purpose VDE pliers for Electrical Work

These Draper Ergo VD pliers have 7 functions and are highly insulated for electrical safety. The functions include 3 different wire cutters, a crimper and pattress screw cutters for those M3 and M5 screws that hold sockets in but are often too long. There is also a wire looping device so you can nicely loop wire to place around terminals.

The pleirs are very well made and have a new ergonomic shape that make them comfortable to hold for those tricky little moments.

Full time professional electricians will have a range of pliers but if you are short of tool box space or are not a full time sparky then these pliers will serve you well.

 Check price of Draper Ergo VDE Pliers at another Fredshed partner

Red and Yellow Pliers are specially insulated and certified fro electrical use.

These new Draper ones have 7 functions to cover the most common electrical jobs.

Ratchet Spanners save time and effort

These Draper expert spanners have a clever little ratchet mechanism built into the ring spanner end. This means that nuts can be moved very quickly with short movements of the spanner.

At about £10 each they are not cheap but will save you so much time. If you are a pro this could mean bigger profits and certainly less effort.

The only downside with ratchet spanners is that they will be less robust so don't use them for tightening or loosening really tough nuts- i.e. not suitable for high torque situations.

Approved by my testers at Oxford University Engineering and also BJ Autos - (Barry and Gary in the shed round the corner)

Now available with pivoting heads

I have tried dozens of cordless screwdrivers and this one is exceptional.

It is so small and comfortable due to the use of small but powerful  Lithium ion batteries (3.6v) This was a breakthrough in cordless tools and gave the Bosch IXO a  Golden Shed Award.

The Bosch IXO comes with a range of bits and a drop in charger. 

The drop in charger and small size of the tool make it ideal for workshop use. This tool is now being copied by many manufacturers.

After 5 years use I am still impressed with my Bosch IXO and the battery is still going strong.

The Bosch IXO  has a LED torch built in which is especially useful for working in cupboards and lofts. The IXO3 comes with an angled head.

And now there is the IXO 4 with a more practical charging base and optional angled or offset heads.

As with all low price DIY drivers it does not come with torque control but you can buy an adapter for this.

Bosch Select

New in 2012 the Bosch 3.6v Select  cordless screwdriver is similar to an IXO but solves the problem of loosing or not being able to find the right size screwdriver bit.

When I first saw this model I almost dismissed it a a gimmick but after testing one in my shed I have been won over by it. The selection of the bits is made easy by an illuminated magnifying glass viewing window and the selection mechanism is fast and secure.

My first concern was what happen when a bit wears out or breaks? can it be changed easily?

The answer is yes as you can jsut pull the bit forward from the chuck and insert a replacement.

One of my Bosch IXO's has lasted since 2006 so I would expect the Select to have a long lifespan too.

Bosch Select

Slightly larger than an IXO but with 12 bits in an easy to select cartridge

Snap on Tools - best ratchet screwdriver

Snap On are American made tools that are the most expensive and the most highly sought after workshop tools around.

The "big deal" with Snap On is the lifetime warranty that persuades many auto mechanic to part with hideous amounts of money for tools. This excellent ratchet screwdriver is donkeys years old and belongs to my friend Leo. If it EVER broke Snap On would replace it.- without a quibble, and if you stamped your feet they might also give you a big girly kiss on the bottom!

At £40 plus vat I would think so too!

However, a SNAP-ON tool is more  likely  to get nicked than break so keep this in mind! Snap On tools ARE super duper quality but I think the prices can only be justified if you are seriously loaded or use the same tool all day - every day.

The gear box boys at Renault Formula 1 Racing use many Snap On tools, but they also use other brands such as Wiha, Draper and Britool. When I visited the Renault Formula One workshops I was pleased to see that the technicians used tools from a wide range of companies including some old but now obsolete British tools.

My tip for any young mechanic is to look around, don't follow the herd and buy EVERYTHING from "the man on the van". Tools like Draper Expert will probably last your working life and if they get nicked by some gippo you might be able to afford to replace them. Wiha tools from Germany are not as expensive and in my opinion equal in quality to any other brand.

(now in black)

Classic Snap On combination spanner

The main problem with files is that the wooden handles are often vibrated off over years of use and can become annoying or even dangerous.

A new range of files is now available with top quality moulded soft touch handles that are comfortable and strong.

I am currently testing these files to see how durable they are and will report my findings in due course.

After extensive use I can report that the new Bahco files with the soft touch handles are rally good and seem to be very durable.

Files are one of those tools that require a lot of effort to use so you owe it to yourself to get the best.

This set of 5 Bahco files covers most applications and have holes in the handles for easy hanging above your workbench.

Adjustable Spanners- and Pump Pliers - tested and reviewed by Fred

Milligrip - Quick slide adjustment

Battery powered Black & Decker Auto wrench

The adjustable spanner is in a way, a "bodgers tool" but we all need one occasionally when that special spanner goes walkies or we don't have a full set. (Are you one spanner short of a full set! )

The adjustable spanner is also a plumbers favourite and an essential part of any workshops toolkit. (Though a well equipped workshop should not need to use one too much)

Two new designs for quick adjustment are now available .

One has a  manual  mechanism which requires you to push the jaws for rapid and accurate adjustment. It is a well made tool and  does not slip.

The Black & Decker Auto wrench is heavier and powered by 3 AAA batteries and can be operated quickly with one hand.

The British designed Milligrip is lighter and is  adjustable in 1mm increments which is ok unless you have a rounded off nut. An imperial sized version known as the Amerigrip will also available.

• jaws will not open once set
• precision jaw setting in 1mm steps
• fast one handed operation
• soft touch, non-slip handle
• precision manufactured
• made from chrome vanadium

 The 25mm Milligrip version

OR IF YOU HAVE BIG NUTS

buy the 32mm Milligrip

This is a British Invention! use my links to purchase and support this website and British Inventors.

OR IF YOU HAVE REALLY BIG NUTS!

Adjustable spanners are ok up to a certain size, and them cost a fortune.

Their cousin the adjustable pump plier is an essential tool for your box and one of the most tried  and tested is from Knipex of Germany

Water Pump Pliers are the easiest and cheapest option for dealing with large nuts

They have been in business at their Margaret Road workshop for over 20 years and  have serviced and repaired all of my vehicles including a Subaru 4wd turbo, Toyota Supra, a Mercedes van and a VW Golf VR6 to name a few.

They are honest, competent and are well equipped with everything including a star wars light sabre - BJ Autos- let the force be with you

Pound thru or chisel screwdrivers from Draper and Wera

Toughest and Best Simple Screwdriver

Pound Thru Screwdrivers

If you need a screwdriver that you can abuse a bit, perhaps hit with a hammer now and again to move a tight screw then look for specially reinforced pound thru screwdrivers. Another name for these wackable screwdrivers is chisel drivers.

This top quality screwdriver has all the features like soft grip, a nut on the shaft so you can put a spanner on it -AND best of all

The shaft runs right through the tool and has a metal cap on the end.

If you do need to give this screwdriver a bit of a tap with a hammer * it will not break or get mashed like most screwdrivers will.

* within reason - this is not a cold chisel

If you want a decent set of normal screwdrivers with Stubbys in each of the 3 main types I can recommend the set below.

 Specialist Allen Keys and Sets

I use hex (Allen)  keys a lot and get well annoyed when I can't get enough purchase on the tool and end up skimming my knuckles or having to tap it with a hammer.

These top quality German tools are amongst the best I have used but are pricey and can be hard to find. Wera and Wiha are both German companies who make top quality specialist Hex keys.

The best hex keys have a ball end so that you can even remove the bolts from an angle where access is restricted. These ones also have a magic ring that clips into the bolt and holds it if you want to lift it out from confined spaces.

For general workshop use I like the Allen keys with a big T grip handle and having them in a rack on your bench is also very helpful.

For mobile use the folding sets are best as you can use the storage compartment as a handle to get more grip.

 p.s Although not strictly correct I prefer to call these tools "Allen keys"  Some people, (especially Americans) call them "hex keys" - sounds a bit geekish to me, so I will stick to Allen Keys

or use the links below to see tools from my partner site tooled-up.com

 see the widest range of Hex keys available online including single tools

This old socket set belongs to my friend Ken and has had decades of use. It still functions perfectly and Ken loves it. It was made by Draper who are based in Southampton. I don't have a lot of use for socket sets nowadays but I do own a nice 26 piece Hilka socket set that I have had for 10 years and can thoroughly recommend.

If you start off buying a good quality set then it should last your lifetime. You might wear out or lose a few of the popular sizes but you can easily replace them individually.

The current equivalent is the Draper expert set, as recommended by my Engineer friend Dangerous Dave Mountain.

Draper are known for making good quality tools at reasonable prices. If you cant justify buying snap-on tools then this is the next option.

The new Draper Expert sets have the advantage of the Hi Torq system to grip your nuts just that little bit tighter. (which is nice)

Coming soon  - New Innovation for Angle Grinders

One common problem when using an angle grinder is run-on, this can be dangerous when you have finished your grinding and want to put down the tool. If the blade is still spinning it can jump around and cause an injury or damage to materials. The new Metabo angle grinder stops spinning almost immediately the switch is turned off and I will be testing and featuring this angle grinder soon.

WD 40, 3 in 1 Oil and PTFE based Teflon lubricants

If you want your expensive tools to last longer and work efficiently then it is important to give them a bit of TLC  and lubricate them before putting them away.

I have used 3 in 1 oil to lubricate bike chains and WD40 to prevent rusting, since I was a child. The maker of these excellent products now have a new, 21st century lubricant that even beats 3 in 1 oil as it contains PTFE. Some people mistakenly think that WD40 is a lubricant but it is actually a water repellent. It is great for spraying on wet electrics and for freeing up rusty nuts and bolts but it is not a good long term lubricant.

I keep a can of this spray close to my automatic garage door so I can regularly lubricate its many hinges. I also keep a can in my garden shredder and use it to lubricate and protect cutting tools and especially the shredder and hedge trimmer blades.

PTFE contains teflon and stops the lubricant drying out. The leading brand of this product in the UK is GT85 and this formula is not only made in the UK but it also has a Lavender scent! How British is that!

buy 3 cans and save £££s

Which is the Best Glue?

 As a self certified master bodger I have been using all sorts of glues for over 40 years and have come to realise that you cant believe the manufacturers claims on many of them.

Most glues are only good for limited applications and these are what they demonstrate at shows and on the adverts. What they don't tell you is that the glue may be virtually useless for most things you buy it for. So remember with glue there is no "one size fits all" you need to chose carefully for the material and job you have to do.

"Super glue " is an example. If you want a fantastic glue to stick your fingers together or a cut on your head, then superglue is the one. If you have something wooden that has split - forget it. If I do need to stick something small and plastic together then I use the Bison superglue Gel, as it does not dry so quickly and gives you time to position things accurately. Superglue is best for small components with a close fit.

 Also many glues come in applicators that will cause the glue to dry up and have a short shelf life. The best way to extend the life of your glue is to make sure you squeeze all the air out if it whenever possible. Gorilla superglue has a neat little pin in the cap to help keep the nozzle clear- I wish other glue manufacturers would do this.

I am a big fan of Araldite glue and have used it for over 30 years. However  sometimes I can't be bothered to mix it up so often I use Unibond Extreme repair glue which is very reliable and squeezes from one small tube. It is ideal for quick easy small repair jobs to plastic and a wide range of materials.

Best Glue to repair wooden garden furniture

Recently I have been looking for a strong glue to repair wooden furniture that is kept outside, in all weathers. Gorilla glue is an amazing product that expands to fill any gaps and claims to be waterproof. My repaired wooden furniture has survived 3 years now and so has the concrete Lion head that I glued back onto a statue. Gorilla Glue also made a dedicated wood glue that has a neat built in adapter and anti-clogging device. The specialised wood glue is not as waterproof as the normal Gorilla Glue which is totally waterproof and meets industry standard D3.

So far I am impressed with the result and will conduct long term tests to see how strong this glue is compared to my other favourites.

 Fred's Favourite Glues